To Touch or Not to Touch: Betting On If the Prince of Wales Trophy Tradition Will Carry On
Betting odds now available for if Panthers or Hurricanes touch Prince of Wales Trophy following Eastern Conference Finals
In the world of NHL superstition, few traditions capture the imagination like the ritual surrounding the Prince of Wales Trophy. Awarded to the Eastern Conference champions, it's a prestigious trophy yet many teams treat it like a cursed object, refusing to lay a finger on it.
Why?
Because some believe touch it is to suggest that the job is done, when in reality, the Stanley Cup is the only true goal. Some players won't go as far as to touch even a miniature sized Stanley Cup when presented it.
Would NHL players touch a replica Stanley Cup? #nhl #stanleycup #nhlplayoffs
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The exact origin of the superstition is unclear, but the belief is simple: touching the Prince of Wales Trophy could jinx a team's chances of winning the Stanley Cup.
Now, oddsmakers have looked to capitalized on this hockey folklore. As of the 2025 playoffs, sportsbooks have set odds at -1000 on FanDuel Sportsbook for the trophy not to be touched, indicating that most bettors and teams expect the winners to keep their distance and continue the tradition.
It's rare to see such steep odds on a non-game prop, which highlights how deeply ingrained this superstition has become. If you believe the Panthers or Hurricanes will be bold and touch the trophy, odds are sitting at +610 but history hasn't always been on the side of the team choosing to break tradition.
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Pittsburgh Penguins: In 2008, Sidney Crosby avoided touching the trophy yet the Penguins lost in the Finals. In 2009, 2016 and 2017, he touched it and they went on to won the Stanley Cup each time.
Florida Panthers: They touched the trophy in 1996 and 2023, losing both Finals. In 2024, they resisted and won their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.
Tampa Bay Lightning: Skipped the trophy in 2015 and lost. Touched it in 2020 and won.
Detroit Red Wings: Steve Yzerman touched the Campbell Bowl (awarded to Western Conference Champions) in 1997. Detroit went on to win the Cup.
New Jersey Devils: Scott Stevens touched it in 1995 and 2003 but both were followed by Cup wins.
Philadelphia Flyers: Mike Richards touched the trophy in 2010. The Flyers lost to the Blackhawks in the Final.
Chicago Blackhawks: Jonathan Toews refused to touch the Campbell Bowl in 2010 and they went on to win the Cup.
The existence of betting odds like the current -1000 for 'no touch' underscores the extent to which this ritual has transcended sport. It's now a cultural moment and a literal bettable event similar to those from other sports like the color of Gatorade during the celebratory dump on the winning head couch. For some captains, touching the trophy is a deliberate reversal of fortune; for others, it's a tradition best left unbroken.
Touching the Prince of Wales Trophy or not has no measurable impact on the ice. But hockey is a game of psychology, momentum, and myth. Whether it's Crosby's redemption arc or the state of Florida's rise to power of the last decade with the Bolts and Panthers, the tale of the trophy adds drama to an already high-stakes moment.
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